Projector for time indications



July 21, 1942.

H. B. NAsso l'r 2,290,811

PROJECTOR FOR TIME INDICATIONS Filed Feb. 5, 1942 INVENTOR. HARRY B./VA.5$0/T A TTORNE X Patented .Fniy 21, 1942? warren STATES eTENT FFiCE-2 Claims.

The invention relates to time-indicating mechanism and more especiallyto means in association therewith whereby a visual time indication maybemomentarily displayed on the ceiling of an unlighted roomin which thetime mechanism or clock is located, for example, on the portion of theceiling immediately above a bed, the display being under control of theoccupant thereof or it may be found useful during blackouts either forcontinuous or momentarydisplay of the time indication.

The invention has for an object to provide the exhibiting element andits advancing mechanism as a cooperative but separate and distinct unitfor association with time mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this unit that it mayreadily be disengaged from the associated driving time mechanism, as incase of repair or replacement of any parts thereof; or for removing,except during the periods of darkness, from the time mechanism the loadintroduced by the unit; also to allow of proper setting of the projectedindividual indicia with reference to the timemechanism.

Still another object is to maintain the displayed individual timeindications stationary for a sufilciently long period by eflectingintermittently the advance of a film bearing the same.

In carrying out the invention, a suitable casing is provided to concealthe time mechanism, which may be a clock of either the spring-actuatedor synchronous-motor type, the mechanism being enclosed by the casingand only the dial with hands thereof being exposed, for example at thefront. Within this casing and mounted preferably upon a swingable doormember or the like, which may constitute-the back is located in such a'manner that, when the door is closed, said mechanism is juxtaposed tothe time mechanism for actuation thereby and also aperture therein. Anelectric lamp, also, is provided in the optical axis of the lens system,and

between the same, and said system is designed to be advanced an endlessstrip of film bearing a succession of indicia conforming to the time bardriven by the clock mechanism. The arbor is designed for engagement withthe driving means for the endless film strip,,said engagement beingeil'ected periodically from the arbor so that an intermittent advancewill be imparted to the film strip in its travel between the lens systemand the lamp. The said electric lamp is designed to be momentarilyenergized, as through the provision of a suitable switch or buttonconveniently located on the casing, so as to project the'indicia on thefilm strip upon the celling whenever the circuit is closed to the lamp.Provision is also made to disengage readily the driving connectionbetween the arbor and the drive mechanism for the film strip; and thereis provided in connection with the driving connection a knob or likemember located exteriorly of the casing whereby-the film strip may beset manually, when the disengagement has been affected, to conform itsindicia to the time indicated by the time mechanism;

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the novel device in isometric projection.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the casing, taken on the line2-2, Fig. 1, with the interior parts shown in end elevation; and Fig. 3a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2 of the drawing, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detail, fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating thefilm advance disengagof the casing, is the display mechanism which'g ingand film setting arrangements.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates a suitable casing or box forhousing the clock mechanism as well as the means for projecting the timeshown by said mechanism. This time mechanism is of any well-known formof clock,

either spring-actuated or driven by a synchronous motor, the latter typebeing indicated in the embodiment shown. The said clock mechanism isindicated as a container ll mounted within the casing Ill and hasoutwardly-directed 'arbors for the minute hand I2 and hour hand l3, aswell as a second hand ll, all movable over the dial l5 at the front ofthe casing.

In this embodiment, the casing I0 is extended backwardly to accommodatethe projecting timeindication unit, the casing being provided to thisend also with an aperture 20 in the top through which the indicationsmay be projected,

' as hereinafter set forth. A switch element 2| is units as representedby the rotations of an armo at the p f he casing vi a finger portion 22projecting thr ough a slot 23 in said top whereby energization of anelectric lamp unit 24 is controlled tor the purpose hereinafter setforth. A vertically disposed optical system 25, adjustable forfocussing, is carried by the top in line with the aperture anddependsirom the top into the interior or the casing; and the lamp unit24 is optically aligned with said system but displaced therefrom toallow of a dim strip 26 passing therebetween. This strip bears suitableindicia 21 along its length corresponding to the time units to bedisplayed and as determined by an arbor of example the seconds arbor 28which is rearw-ardly extended from the container H and carries one orthe elements 29 of a Geneva movement or other suitable means forimparting intermittent motion from the time mechanism to the film strip.The latter is constituted as an endless band 01. film or liketransparent material having the indicia 21 thereon, plurality ofsprocket wheels or rollers 30 secured to the back 3| of the casing IIIwhich is hinged at the bottom as at 32. The film is engaged, also, by afurther sprocket 33 which serves to advance the film intermittently inequal increments, said film being maintained under suitable tension by atensionin'g roller. 34 also carried by the back 3i.

n the spindle 35 for said sprocket 33 and at its irmer end is mountedfor rotating the spindle the cooperatnig element 36 of the Genevamovement, whereby said film strip is advanced from the arbor 28 betweenthe lamp unit '24 and the optical system 25, for example-once everyminute. The extent of this advance is made to conform. to the timeindications on the dial so that the respective indicia of the film stripwill be positioned successively for projection by the light rays of lampunit 24 through the optical system 25 and upon the ceiling of a room inwhich the device is located, provided the switch 2| has been actuated toclose the circuit to the lamp unit 24.

All of the elements for mounting and advancing said film, as well as thelamp unit 24, being secured to the movable back 3|, these become readilyaccessible when the back is swung outwardly for repair or replacement.The separation of the cooperating Geneva movement elements' may beeffected byso mounting the spindle 35 that it may be manually withdrawnaxially outwardly, as by means of a knob 40 secured thereto externallyof the casing Ill. The spindle to this end is mounted in a sleeve 4|which is keyed to the spindle and over which sleeve the sprocket 33 issecured. The sleeve 4| is preferably of the split type at one end, withend prongs 42 designed to fit a notched portion correspondingend of thespindle, whenthe latter is drawn outwardly, to definitely limit thereofmovement. A similar notch 44 the spindle at thecooperating end by theextent is provided in the time mechanism, for

43' at the engaged, so

to limit, when engaged by the prongs, its movement inwardly forpositioning element 33 with respect to element 29 or the Genevamovement. The foregoing arrangement, furthermore, admits or movement orthe film 23 independently or the time mechanism when the spindle 35hasbeen drawn outwardly and the Geneva element disthat the said film maybe manually set, by'turning knob 40, to conform the indicia and it iscarried by a to be projected to the time indications or the timemechanism.

I claim:

1. Projector for a casing with aperture in disposed optical system forjuxtaposition to said aperture in projecting an image therethrough,anelectric lamp in the optical axis or said system and means accessibleexterlorly of the casing for controlling manually energization of saidlamp, time mechanism locatedwithin the casing including a dial casinghaving hands movable thereover and an arbor extending into the interiorof the casing making a complete rotation in a predetermined unitor time,an endless fllmcstrip mounted for movement between the lamp and theoptical system, said film bearing spaced indicia conforming to the timeunit or said arbondriving means for the strip adapted for engagementwith the arbor, and manually operable means accessible exte riorly orthe casing to effect engagement between the driving means and said arborfor advance of the former and to effect disengagement therewith insetting the film strip to conform the same to a time indication on thedial. 2. Projector for time indications, comprising a casing withaperture in the top and a movable backior the casing, a verticallydisposed optical system for juxtaposition to said aperture in projectingan image therethrough, an electric lamp carried'by the back in theoptical axis of said time indications, comprising the top, a verticallysystem and means accessible exteriorly of the casing tor-controllingmanually energization of said lamp, time mechanism located within thecasing including a dial visible through the front or the casing havinghands movable thereover and an arbor extending into the interior or thecessible exteriorly oi the casing-through the back thereof to eflectengagement between the driving means and said arbonfor advance or theformer and to effect disengagement therewith in setting the illmstrip-to'conform' the sam to dial.

a time indication on the HARRY B. -'NASSOIT.

visible through the front of the

